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| “ | Hey, little songbird. | „ |
| ~ Hades enticing Eurydice to accept his deal. |
| “ | And our work is never done. My children, my children. And the war is never won. The enemy is poverty, and the wall keeps out the enemy, and we build the wall to keep us free. That’s why we build the wall; we build the wall to keep us free! | „ |
| ~ Hades instilling fear and control into his factory workers. |
Hades is the titular main antagonist of the musical Hadestown.
He is the husband of Persephone and the ruler of Hadestown, a brutal underground factory that entices mortals with the promise of riches and protection. When he is able to successfully convince the mortal Eurydice to return with him to his factory, his grip over the detached factory workers is threatened by the arrival of Eurydice’s optimistic muse, Orpheus.
He was originally portrayed by Patrick Page, who also portrayed Norman Osborn in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, the Grinch in the short film of the same name, Judge Claude Frollo in the musical adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mr. Greentoes in Moville Mysteries, Calvin Huntley in Chicago P.D. and Satan in Helluva Boss.
Biography[]
History[]
Hades fell in love with Persephone and brought her down into the underworld. While Persephone was there she ate six seeds which despite the efforts of her mother meant she had to spend six months of the year with Hades. In those six months winter would come and no food would grow. Despite this Persephone grew to love Hades but as the centuries passed, they grew apart.
Hadestown[]
Persephone arrives home in the world above and celebrates the summertime however she is taken back to the underworld by Hades early much to her dismay. With Persephone gone a storm overtakes the world above leading Eurydice to get trapped in it. Eurydice dies and is approached by Hades to come down into the underworld and is also urged to go by the fates. When Eurydice arrives in Hadestown, Hades has her sign a contract making her a worker in the underworld. Meanwhile Eurydice's lover, Orpheus notices her disappearance and heads to Hadestown to retrieve her.
Eurydice soon realizes the consequences of going to Hadestown when she realizes the workers are enslaved husks of who they used to be, however she cannot leave with Hades' consent. Orpheus arrives in Hadestown and promises Eurydice that he will take her home with him. Hades appears and Eurydice sadly acknowledges his revelation to him that Eurydice voluntarily signed the contract. Orpheus is told to give up hope by the Fates, and Hades commands the workmen to attack him.
In addition to motivating the workers and drawing Persephone's attention, Orpheus makes a promise to discover a way to free Eurydice. Orpheus' persistence serves as an inspiration for Persephone, who begs Hades to release Eurydice. Hades coldly offers Orpheus the chance to sing his finished song while threatening to kill him later, as the workers start to seriously doubt the freedom they were promised. Hades is reminded of his love for Persephone when Orpheus sings his song and the two dance. Orpheus and Eurydice make a commitment to be together no matter what happens to Hades and Persephone following their reconciliation. When Orpheus asks Hades if they can depart, Hades replies that he hasn't made up his mind. The Fates make fun of Hades' predicament: If he kills Orpheus and imprisons Eurydice, they become martyrs; yet, if he releases them, he loses control over his workers who have started to want their freedom. Hades decides to let Orpheus and Eurydice go on one condition: Orpheus must lead them out. Eurydice will go back to Hadestown and stay there forever if he turns around to see if she is following him.
Orpheus and Eurydice leave, but ultimately Eurydice is forever returned to Hades when Orpheus’s doubt convinces him to turn around.